President Obama puts high-speed trains on fast track

President Obama speaks about a system of high-speed rail as Vice President Joe Biden (l.) and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood look on. (Somodevilla/Getty)

President Obama launched Thursday an aggressive new effort to build high-speed rail lines nationwide, reducing travel times and advancing mobility for travelers increasingly frustrated with choked highways and congested airports.

"Building a new system of high-speed rail in America will be faster, cheaper and easier than building more freeways or adding to an already over-burdened aviation system, and everybody stands to benefit," Obama said before departing for his first trip to Mexico.

Advertisement

The plan identifies 10 areas around the country primed for high-speed rail, including the "Empire corridor" of New York City, Albany and Buffalo. But the administration has not made any decision about where to funnel funds, Obama insisted.

"Any region can step up, present a plan and be considered," he said.

While plans to improve the nation's rail system have long been discussed in Washington, the President and Vice President Biden, whom Obama called "America's No. 1 rail fan," vowed progress would finally come.

"This is not some fanciful pie-in-the-sky vision of the future," Obama said. "It is happening right now. It's been happening for decades. The problem is, it's been happening elsewhere, not here."

Obama said countries in Europe and Asia -- specifically France, Spain, China and Japan -- have far outpaced America when it comes to transforming their nations' rail lines to meet the demands of the 21st Century.

"There's no reason why we can't do this -- this is America," Obama said. "There's no reason why the future of travel should lie somewhere else, beyond our borders."

The president unveiled yesterday a strategic plan outlining his vision for high speed rail in America.The plan identifies $8 billion provided in the recently approved stimulus package and $1 billion a year for five years requested in the federal budget as a down payment to jump-start the nation's high-speed rail lines.

By late summer, the administration expects to begin awarding the first round of grants.

The plan identifies two types of projects for funding. One would create new corridors for high-speed rail, and the other would make train service along existing rail lines incrementally faster.

Obama insisted the "money will be distributed based on merit -- not on politics, not as favors, not for any other consideration; purely on merit."